Good news for the hip pockets of Bernie Ecclestone event organisers for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, who have reported that they closed sales for tickets to this year’s event overnight – meaning a sell-out attendance of 300,000 fans will visit the Isle Notre Dame venue to mark the event’s return to the F1 calendar.

Event promoter Francois Dumontier of Octane Racing Group confirmed that tickets for the 2011 event have already gone on sale, and was delighted with the enthusiasm that F1’s return to Montreal has received.

“We are of course very pleased with the public response,” said Dumontier. “Local fans, obviously proud of their grand prix, were quick to respond when we announced ticket sales last December, and we soon realised that they were not going to stay away from something they appreciate.

“Then, over the course of the following months, we received huge fan response from abroad, which pleasantly surprised us. Our ticket sales in Europe were exceptional, and this is a testimony to the appeal of our event in traditional Formula 1 markets.

“There are thousands of connoisseurs who have for years watched the Canadian Grand Prix broadcast from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and were now ready to cross the ocean to witness a Formula 1 Grand Prix, Montréal style. We are going to welcome them, as we do with all other fans, with warmth and enthusiasm. And I invite Montrealers to do the same.”

Thousands of fans flocked to the circuit in spite of rather cold and miserable conditions on Thursday (pictured) to stroll along the pit land and take in the atmosphere leading up to Sunday’s race.